Prominent greyhound owner loves sending dogs to Rockhampton

By Jordan Gerrans

Prominent greyhound owner and breeder George Farrugia is yet to visit Central Queensland but Rockhampton is rapidly becoming one of his favourite tracks in Australia. 

The Melbourne-based Farrugia has in recent years sent dogs he owns or has bred to leading Bouldercombe trainer Darren Taylor, with the pair developing a fruitful social and professional relationship.

Say Some Words has been a consistent bitch for the owner and trainer across the Sunshine State since late 2021 and she added a Central Queensland qualifier heat victory for the Country Cup to her resume on Wednesday night.

And, in doing so, Say Some Words ran a personal best time of 29.83 seconds around the 510 metre Callaghan Park circuit.

The victory punches her ticket for next Wednesday evening’s CQ qualifier Final, with the top four from that race landing in the $23,700 Country Cup Final for 2023 at Albion Park on the first Thursday in February.

The Country Cup Final is a key feature race as part of the 2022-23 Golden Greys Summer Carnival.

After Say Some Words ran the quickest time she ever has around Rockhampton, Farrugia is optimistic the red brindle bitch will be more than competitive come the Country Cup Final, if she was to make her way through.

“If she makes the Final, we go into the race with a bit of confidence that she can run a race on the back of that,” Farrugia – who bred Say Some Words - said.

Farrugia – who runs Kramerica Greyhounds with Wade Gallagher as a breeding company – believes the Country Cup Final is an excellent opportunity for regional trainers and owners to have their chance in the city spotlight.

“I think it is an unbelievable concept as it gives the lesser lights an opportunity to win at the bigger tracks,” he said.

“She is already an Albion Park winner but this gives her another chance.

“It is a great opportunity to race for bigger prize money, as well.

“Darren always likes making the drive down to Albion Park when he thinks he has a chance in a race like this.

“He is really keen on her going forward.”

As well as his owning and breeding interests, Farrugia is also a prominent form analyst and expert on radio, television and online about the code of greyhound racing.

Farrugia and his ownership team have had great success in the Sunshine State in recent times and they are hopeful it will roll on with Say Some Words later in the carnival. 

They claimed the Listed Gold Cup at Albion Park in early 2020 with True Detective, who was trained by Jeffrey Britton at the time.

True Detective retired as a five-time Group winner in April of 2021.

Farrugia was at the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club for that memorable occasion and hopes to eventually make his way to Rockhampton at some stage.

He has developed a close friendship with Taylor, who has been a leading dog man in Central Queensland for many years.

“We have become mates and I have sent him a few dogs since then,” Farrugia said of Taylor.

“He is a terrific bloke and certainly can train a dog.

“I actually just dropped one off at the airport this morning for him so he will have another one soon.

“If there are dogs that are just slightly off what I need to race in Melbourne then Darren has been fantastic.

“The prize money is pretty good there in Rockhampton so it has been a bit of a no-brainer.”

As well as Say Some Words, Taylor also prepares Botticelli and Lone Hunter for Farrugia.

“Say Some Words went to Darren to start her career and he has done a bloody good job with her,” he said.

Farrugia’s Kramerica syndicate are excited about the prospects of the promising Scofflaw, who recently qualified for the Group 1 Silver Chief Final, and will tomorrow run in a heat of the National Derby at Wentworth Park.

“We have got a fair few nice ones down here and we also have a fair few breaking in this year, so there should be a nice little influx coming through,” he said.

Say Some Words was the quickest of the two Central Queensland qualifier heats for the Country Cup on Wednesday evening with Amber Boody’s Blue Jeans Talk taking out the other event.

Blue Jeans Talk was a touch slower in 30.38 seconds.

The North Queensland leg of the Country Cup qualifying series will kick-off at Townsville next week.

The North Queensland qualifier will be run over 498 metres with heats held on Tuesday, January 17 before the Final on Tuesday, January 24 at Townsville’s Showgrounds complex.